Today: Cloudy & windy, w/periods of snow and or rain mixed at times, this afternoon. High near 39. E @ 10-20mph w/gusts to near 30. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 9pm. Low around 25. S @ 10-20 w/gust to near 35. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday: Cloudy & windy, w/a 20% chance of snow through about 1pm. High near 30. N @ 15-35mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. E/NE @ 5-10mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Today: Cloudy with scattered flurries. High 32. NE @ 5-10.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Low 20. E @ 5-10.

Sunday: Cloudy with a 40% chance of afternoon rain and snow. High 38. SSE @10-20.

Sunday Night: Cloudy with rain and snow likely. Becoming all snow after midnight.  Low 29.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of lingering snow showers in the morning. High 33.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 31.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High 34.

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DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS) State Climatology Office and the National Weather Service (NWS) are recruiting volunteer precipitation observers across Iowa to participate in the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network, known as “CoCoRaHS” (pronounced “KO-ko-rozz”).

Weather observers are needed everywhere, but with the most critical needs are in 16 counties: Pocahontas, Worth, Wright, Allamakee, Bremer, Calhoun, Greene, Shelby, Audubon, Cedar, Adair, Adams, Decatur, Monroe, Louisa and Davis counties.

All that is needed to participate is an interest in the weather, a four inch diameter rain gage, a suitable location to set up the gauge and access to the internet. All data collected is immediately available for free online and is routinely used for flood forecasting, drought assessment, news media stories, scientific research and general weather interest.

Much more information about the network is available on the CoCoRaHS web site at www.cocorahs.org. The website includes information on how to join, where to obtain your rain gauge and how to accurately measure and report rain and snow. There is no cost involved in joining or participating in the CoCoRaHS network other than the need for the four inch diameter rain gauge.

The network was established by the Colorado Climate Center in 1998 and has now spread to all fifty states and Canada. Iowa joined this volunteer network in 2007 and now has over 300 registered CoCoRaHS observers across the state. However, more observers are needed to better document the amount and variability of rain and snow across Iowa.

State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says “Whatever comes our way in 2017, the weather observations obtained by this network can be of great benefit in obtaining a clearer picture of Iowa’s weather.”

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says with predicted snow fall amounts being difficult to forecast and snowfall amounts and computer models varying widely, he is going to err on the side of caution, and anticipates an on street parking ban to be taking effect in Clarinda sometime early Saturday morning.

Brothers said “Our snow emergency ordinance is quite simple. Once two inches of snow accumulates no on street parking is allowed. The parking ban remains in effect until the snow ceases to fall and the public works department snow plow operators have plowed the streets from curb to curb. Vehicles not moved are subject to being towed and parking tickets being issued to the vehicle’s registered owner.”

Clarinda he says, has not enacted a snow parking ban this winter season, therefore he’s anticipating a large number of violations. The key, is to stay up-to-date on the latest forecast and remember to move your vehicle off the streets when two-inches of snow has accumulated.

(6-a.m. Friday) — The National Weather Service in Johnston reports two separate snow events look to impact Iowa over the next 72 hours. The first round of snow will primarily affect Central, west and southwest Iowa from Midnight tonight through Noon, Saturday. Forecast snow amounts range from 1″ in Ames, to as much as 3″ in far southwest Iowa. Winds won’t be too much of a factor, though (Easterly at 5-10mph), but roadways could become snow covered and slippery.

The second snow event will impact the area from Noon Sunday through Noon, Monday, with 2- to 4-inches of snow from southwest through central Iowa. As much as 4-to 6-inches of snow can be expected from Ames northward, to the Minnesota border. Winds will be southeast at 10-15mph. Roadways are likely to become snow-covered and slippery. Visibility may be less than 1 mile during periods of heavier snow. The Monday morning commute may be significantly impacted!

If you have travel plans in Iowa, especially Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, make sure you are prepared for snow-covered, slippery roads & increased travel times. The rest of next week looks to be cool, with high temperatures in the 20s and 30s, and low dipping to the teens several days next week.

Today: P/Cloudy to Cloudy. High 32. NE @ 10-20.

Tonight: Cloudy w/snow developing late. Low 22. N @ 15-25.

Tomorrow: Cloudy w/snow through around Noon (1-3” total). High 28. N @ 10-15.

Sunday: Cloudy w/a 40% chance of snow/mixed precip. in afternoon. High 35.

Monday: Cloudy w/light snow or flurries. High 34

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 49. Our Low this morning was 15. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 66 and the low was 28. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 75 in 2015. The Record Low was -8 in 1948.

The Field/Grassland Fire Danger rating in Shelby County was reduced today (Thursday), from the “Extreme,” to “High” category. The rating is in effect until the next update on Monday. Emergency management officials warn conditions will still support large fire growth, and resistance to firefighting efforts. Be sure to call 712-755-2124 if you plan to conduct an outdoor burn, and contact your local Fire Chief prior to igniting.

The experts predict run-off into the Missouri River system will be above-normal this spring, but the region is -not- expected to be hit with any flooding. Nicole Shorney, a hydraulic engineer with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers, says snow pack is very low in the upper basin due to several warm snaps and the relatively mild winter.

“The heaviest snow liquid contents range from two-to-four inches in some localized areas of central North Dakota, although the heaviest amounts are outside the Missouri River basin,” Shorney says. “Some areas of central Montana and north-central Wyoming also have remaining Plains snow that has less than an inch of liquid content. The rest of the upper basin has no Plains snow remaining.”

Shorney says run-off so far this year has been above-normal. “February run-off was more than double its average due to Plains snow melt from much warmer-than-normal February temperatures,” Shorney says. “Focusing on the March-to-July run-off season, the time when we see our highest run-off, we’re expecting March run-off to be slightly above-average for the upper basin as the remainder of the Plains snow pack enters the system.”

Shorney says they expect slightly above-normal run-off into late spring. “For the Oahe to Sioux City regions, we’re forecasting normal run-off for the April-to-July period,” she says. “Our annual run-off forecast is 29.1-million acre feet or 115-percent of normal.”

Corps officials say all of the water in the flood storage of the reservoirs has been sent downstream. Releases from Gavins Point Dam will increase later this month to support downstream navigation.

(Radio Iowa)

MARY LOUISE HANSEN, 97, of Council Bluffs, died Tuesday, March 7th, at Bethany Lutheran Home. A Mass of Christian Burial for MARY LOUISE HANSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Saturday, March 11th, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Walnut. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home, is on Friday, March 10th, from 5-until 8-p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Cemetery at Walnut.

MARY LOUISE HANSEN is survived by:

Her daughters – Judith (Delbert) Brehmer, of Council Bluffs, & Rosemary (Bill) Steinkamp, of Bellingham, WA.

Her sons – Jerry Hansen, and Ronald (Nancy) Hansen, all of Walnut.

Her brother – Gerald Martin, of Exira.

7 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Today: P/Cloudy to Cloudy. High near 50. NE @ 10-15.

Tonight: Mostly Cloudy. Low 22. N @ 15-25.

Tomorrow: Mo. Cloudy. High 34. N @ 15-25.

Tomorrow night: Snow developing mainly after midnight. Low 18.

Saturday: Cloudy w/a 50% chance of snow in the morning. High 28.

Sunday: Cloudy w/a 40% chance of snow or mixed precip. in the afternoon. High 33.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 55. Our Low this morning (as of 5-a.m.) was 29. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 59 and the low was 27. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 76 in 1986. The Record Low was -10 in 1912.